Collapsible container



.Oct l2, 1943.

G.' A. 'rRosT 1' 2,331,582

coLLAPsIBLE. CONTAINER Filed May 21, 1941 INVENTOR. Gvsmvs A. 7720s?.

A2' Ton/vii.

Patented Oct. 12,l 1943 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER,

Gustave rkA. Trost, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Fleishhacker Paper Box' Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 21, 1941, serial Nn. 394,489

' 3 Claims. (c1. 229-41) The present invention relates to boxes and containers such as are generally constructed of cardboard or other pliable material, and more.A

particularly to a box or container of the-type and style generally referred to as foldable, knockdown or collapsible, and in which the box or container as a whole is constructed from a single blank.

An object of the invention is to provide a box or receptacle thatcan be economically manufactured and that can be collapsed into a flatunit for shipment and quickly set up `for use in a simple and convenient manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible box or receptacle that may be manufactured by automatic machinery in an improved,

manner and with greater facility than heretofore and to these ends to provide a simple and uncomplicated blank which is adapted for such manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible or folding box formed from a singlel blank of pliable material or cardboard and so arranged that when the parts of the box are.

moved to cause the box to assume its Vset-up condition, the tendency of said parts will be to move toward their proper positions and be retained insaid condition.`

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible box unit having outwardly folded end wall portions and an infolding bottom forming portion so constructed and related that when pressure is exerted upon said outwardly folded end wall portions, said end wall portions will assume their normal position and said infolded bottom portion will simultantaneously assume its unfolded and normal position with respect thereto in a single operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible box wherein the folded portions reinforce and rigidly stay the corners to thus provide a box which will withstand rough usage and, when lled, will not disengage at the corners, as frequently occurs with prior boxes 0f this type.

the consumer without requiring any mechanical.

operationsor other special attention.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part evident to those skilled in the art` and in part pointed out hereinafter in connec` tion with the accompanying drawing, wherein there is-shown by way of illustration and not of limitation a preferred embodiment thereof.

' In-the drawing;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible box constructed in accordance with the inven-v tion;A

Figure v2 is a developed view` showing the box forming blank in its fiat, unfolded condition.

Figure 3 is a side view of the box as it appears when collapsed and ready for shipment to a yconsumer, and

Figure 4 is a vview looking into the boxfand showing the manner inwhich itis extended from opened and,

its collapsed `c'nndition to its fully usable-condition.

In the drawing the inventionfis shown as erl-l bodied in. a box of rectangular configuration having a lengthl that is substantially twice its width, and adepth of approximately one-half its width. This is a conventional box, such'- as might be :used for the vshipment of candies, flowers and the like, or forvshoes and other wearf ing apparel. Itis to, beunderstood, however, that theboxmay take other forms. Forexamplegit may be perfectly square and of varying depths, or it may be constructed as a square or relatively long and narrow box. While the box is here shown `as having a cover forming member formed integral with the blank, it will also be understood that a separate cover may be provided, if desired. A novel feature of-the' box is believed to reside in the fact that all of the interlocking and intricately cut and creased portions of ,the blank are embodied in the end forming portions thereof. As a result of this, it is possible to provide for boxes 'of various lengths with the same cutting die by simply cutting the blanks with diiferent dimensions between the end forming portions.

With reference to Figure 1 of the drawing, it will be noted that the box has a bottom portion I0 and back and front sides II and I2, and end walls I3 and I4. Hinged to the back wall II the box is also provided with a cover forming flap I5 that has a tongue I6 which is disposed inside of the front wall I2 when the box is closed. At

this point it will also be noted that the end walls I3 and I4 have upstanding portions which foldk inwardly to form end flaps I1 and I8 over which the cover I5 is disposed. It will also be noted that the box bottom IIlhas integrally formed end portions I9 that are provided with notcheslll disposedalong its medial line. As here illustrated and as will be more particularly pointed out here tions lI9 are in their upright position.

inafter, these extending end portions I9 of the box bottom III have diagonal folds or creases 2l which extend inwardly and upwardly from the bottoml corners of the box wheny vthe end por- At the same time,I it will be noted that, the end walls I3 and I4 are formed in two parts lwhich are carried by the back and front walls Il and l2 .of the box. Theseparts, which form the end walls I3 and I4, are adhesively secured together intermediate the sides of the box and at one side `of a vertically extending and centrally disposed fold line 22 along which the end walls Il and I4 are adapted to fold outwardly. Arranged in alignment with the fold lines 22 of the end walls I3 and I4 there is a further fold line 23 which extends along the longitudinal center of the box bottom Il and upwardly into the notches 2II of the end portions I9 and along which the box bottom I is adapted to fold inwardly as the end walls I3 and I4 fold outwardly into their collapsed position. This simultaneous or conjoint folding action of the box bottom I0 and the end walls I3 and I4 is made possible by virtue of the diagonally disposed fold lines 2| previouslydescribed as carried by the end portions I9 of the box bottom I IJ, and the fact that these extending portions I9 of the box bottom III are glued to the end walls I3 and I4 throughout the area of the extending portions I9 located above the diagonal fold lines 2 I As is more clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, the box blank is formed of a single iiat sheet of material upon which all of the intricate cutting and fold creasings are provided in the `end wall forming portions. As will be here seen, the end wall I3 is formed by an extending portion 24 which is carried by the' back wall II and an extending portion 25 which is hingedly carried by the front wall I2 of the box. The extending portion 24 carries the fold line 22 and its extension beyond this fold line 22 provides for a lapped and glued connection between these 'parts lwhen the box blank-is assembled at the factory. Similarly, the end wall I4 is formed by an extending portion 26 at the other end of the box vwall II, and an extending portion 21 carried by this end of the front wall I2 of the box. These portions are also connectedtogether by a lapped-and gluedjoint, as in the case of the end wall I3. In' thisiigure of the drawing, the extending portions 24; 25, 26 and 21 oi.' the side walls II and I2 of the box are shown as shaded in that area to which the secured portions of the extending portions I9 of the box bottom I0 are glued. In this operation, it will be understood that the glue will be applied to the extending portions I9 outwardly from and above the diagonal fold lines 2I carried thereby. After the box blank has been cut, as here illustrated,

and glued together, as above indicated, the blank may be collapsed into the condition illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing by simply pressing in on the side walls I I and I2 of the box. This will cause the box bottom III to fold inwardly and,

at the same time, the end walls I3 and I4 will fold outwardly along the vertical fold lines 22 provided upon the extending portions 24 and 28. It will be in this condition that the box blanks will be shipped from the factory to a consumer.`

When the box is received by the consumer in its collapsed condition, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing, it can be rendered usable in an instantaneous manner by merely applying pressure with the hands at the edges of the outwardly folded end walls Il and I4,as indicated in Figure 4 of the drawing. When the collapsed box blank 5 is subjected to pressure in this manner, the end walls I3 .and lI4 will be caused to assume their normal position with respect to the box bottom and, at-the same time, the unglued portions of the extending portions I9 carried by the box bot- 10 tom I0, here designated by the numeral 28, will flex downwardly and inwardly adjacent the diagonally disposed fold lines 2I` until the box bottom I0 has assumed its flat, open position. As this occurs, the end walls will snap into their flnal position and retain the box in its open position. Then, after the box has been iilled and the end flaps I1 and I8 have been folded inwardly, these flaps will further stillen the end walls and prevent any collapsing thereof while the box is in use and, at the same time, the box bottom I0 will be held normal to the side and end walls of the box.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose the invention so that the same can be readily understood, described and illustrated speciilc devices and arrangements, I de- .sire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the speciiic means disclosed, but may be, embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that this invention is new and all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims lare to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l. A collapsible box, comprising' a single blank of pliable material having right-angled fold lines formed therein and dening a rectangular bottom, sides and end wallsof the box, the end walls of the box being formed by two portions extending one from each side wall of the box when folded and secured together at one sideof a vertical fold line disposed centrally of the box, where- 45 by the ends of the box formed thereby may fold outwardly, said box bottom portion having bottom hinged end forming portions with centrally disposed notches extending inwardly from theirv outer edges and terminated short of the fold line deiining the'hinge of said end forming portions, diagonal fold lines formed in said end portions extending from the bottom right angled corners of the box to said notches and dening two glue areas above said diagonal fold lines that are secured one to each of said rst end wall forming portions and an unglued area adjacent-each of these glued areas, and a longitudinally extending score line formed centrally in said bottom portion of the box and terminating at the notches of said bottom hinged end portions along which in conjunction with said diagonal fold lines said bottom forming portion and unglued areas of said bottom hinged end portions may fold inwardly when the box is in its collapsed condition.

4.2. A collapsible box, comprising a single blank of pliable material having right-angled fold lines formed therein and dening a rectangular bottom, sides and end walls of the box, the end walls ofthe box being formed by portions extending from each side wall of the box when folded and secured together at oneside of a vertical fold line located centrally of the box, whereby the ends of the box formed thereby may fold outwardly, said box bottom portion having additional end forming portions hinged to said bottom portion with centrally disposed notches extending inwardly from their outer edges and terminating short of the fold line defining the hinge of said end forming portions, diagonal fold lines formed in said latter end portions extending from the bottomV of said additional end portions may fold inwardly when the box is in its collapsed condition, and infolding ilap portions defined by a fold line extending at a right-angle to the central fold line of said first end wall forming portions adapted tofold in and hold said end walls in an extended position when the box is in use.

'Eil

3. A collapsible box, comprising a single blank i of' pliable material having right-angled fold lines formed therein and deiining a rectangular bottom, sides and end walls of the box, the end walls of the box being formed by portions extending from each side wall of the box when folded and secured together at one side of a vertical fold .line disposed centrally of the box, whereby the end walls formed thereby may fold outwardly, said box bottom forming portion having extending bottom hinged ends with cut out portions forming a central notch at their outer edges which terminates short of the hinge forming fold of said bottom hingedv ends and diagonal fold lines which extend outwardly from the bottom corners of. the box when folded'and also dene partial glue areas adjacent the side Walls of the box that are secured one to each of said rst end wall forming portions, a longitudinally extending score line formed centrally in said bottom forming portion and terminating at the cut out portions of said extending bottom hinged end portions along which in coniunction with said diagonal foldy lines said bottom forming portion and the unglued portions of said extending bottom hinged end portions may fold inwardly when the box is in its collapsed condition, foldable ilaps upon the end walls of the box adapted to maintain said end walls in an extended position, and a cover forming flap upon one of said side Walls adapted to overlie and hold said end iiaps when the box is in use.

GUSTAV'E A. TROST. 

